Charles s



(No Model.)

0. S. WELLS. GON'VEYER CHAIN.

110.406.1862 Patented July 2,1889.

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UNITED STATES wie -CHARLES S. WVELLS, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FIFTHS TO HARRY W. GARLAND, OF SAME PLACE.

CONVEYER-OHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,186, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed June 1, 1888. Serial No. 275,735. (No model.)

To all whom/it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. WELLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyers and Power- Transmittcrs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to conveyers and power-transmitters of the class in which an ordinary welded-link endless chain passed over two or more sprocket-wheels is used as a cable for transmitting motion and for conveyi ng or transferring material of various forms and conditions in Various places.

The object of this invention is to provide a conveyer-cable with a series of engaging devices or blocks, which, while held rigidly in position in relation to a movement lengthwise of the cable, will allow the links of the cable to rock or move in their bearings in said blocks, whereby an uneven strain upon the cable is avoided; and the invention consists in the combination, arrangement, and construction of the parts, as will be more fully described hereinafter, and specifically set forth in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings are illustrated the devices I employ to attain these obj ects, and in which I Figure 1 is a side View of a sprocketwvheel, with a portion of the transmitting-chain thereon and embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the improved device as attached to a conveyer-chain. Fig. 4 is the same, with a double chain for conveying slabs, edgings, sawdust, coal, &c., and mill-refuse. Figs. 5 and 6 are front and side views showing the device arranged for conveying grain, sawdust, and other fine material. Figs. 7 and 8 represent front and side views of my im-. provement arranged for conveying elevatorbuckets. Fig. 9 shows the device arranged for moving and hauling logs. Figs. 10 and 11 are details of the clamping-block detached. Fig. 12 shows the manner of securing divided ends of the chain together. Fig. 13 is a modified form of the device shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

a represents a sprocket-wheel provided on each side edge of its periphery with the outwardly-projecting sprocket-teeth b, leaving a space a between the inner lateral sides of the teeth, within which and upon the periphery of the wheel rests the endless chain d, the chain passing also over a second sprocketwheel of a like character located at some distance from and in proper alignment with the first wheel, (one only being shown in the drawings.) At suitable intervals upon the chain d, and transversely across the same, are secured the bars or blocks 6, the end portions 4 of the blocks projecting laterally, beyond the chain, so they rest in the depressions between the sprocket-teeth b as the chain passes over the wheels. These blocks 6 are formed with an upper-section f and a lower sectiong, each section being provided with a transverse recess (shown in Figs. 10 and 11) which fits over and covers one-half of the chain, the recess being provided with the outer portions h and i to receive and fit upon the vertical linksj of the chain, and with the central portion k, which receives and fits over the horizontal link Z, which is between, and joins the adjacent vertical links j. The portion of the recess is also provided with a part m,pr0 jecting upwardly from the middle of the recess, and formed and fitted to engage with the central opening of the horizontal link I, so that when the sections are passed over the chain the said links rest in the recesses and the parts m extend into and engage with the horizontal central link, with the opposite outer faces of the parts m and of the laterally-extending portions r of the block bearing upon each other, and they are then secured in this position by bolts or rivets 0, which are passed through the sections on opposite sides of the chain.

The contour of the projecting ends 1 is preferably adapted to conform to the contour of the depressions between the projecting teeth ofthe sprocket-wheels, and the series may be so spaced upon the chain that one will pass into each space on the wheel, as shown in the upper portion of Fig. l, or, if desired, they maybe arranged to engage with each alternate space, as shown in the lower portion of the same figure.

It will be seen that the peripheries of the wheels, being devoid of grooves which fit over and carry the chain, and the space between the series of the radially-projectin g teeth being ample for the reception of the chain, are entirely relieved from any liability of dustand other material becoming packed beneath the chain, while at the same time it is evident that the chain, being provided with the trans verse blocks, as set forth, makes in passing over the wheels an interlocking engagement with the teeth thereof, which transmits a positive motion from the driving to the driven wheel. This form of chain transmitter is particularly adapted for use in conveyors and elevators, dzc.

By adding to the clamping-blocks c a disk p (shown in Figs. 5 and 6) an elevator or conveyer bucket is formed, which is adapted to conveying grain, tlour, sawdust, &c., the chute or trough being of. a suitable configuration transversely to fit the peripheries of the disks, and the disks may be arranged upon each clamping-block of the series or upon alternate blocks, or may be even farther apart, as necessary or desirable.

In Fig. 3 is shown the device arranged as a conveyor, having the transverse bars or blocks c, of considerable length and adapted for use in saw-mills for transferring bark; ed gin gs, sawmill refuse, &c.

In Fi 4: is shown the same, having a double chain, the transverse blocks 0 extending entirely across both of the chains, to which they are clamped at a point near their ends, the bar itself being divided, or the conveyor-bars may be placed upon and secured to the clamping-blocks, as most convenient and desirable.

In Figs. '7 and 8 are shown elevator-buckets 8, attached to the conveyer-chain by means of my improved clamping device.

In Fi 9 is shown the mode of using the improved device for hauling logs endwise into a saw-mill, the cross-bars being provided with proj cctin g spurs which catch into engagement with the lo In Fig. 10 is illustrated the manner of connecting the ends of a chain together. The cen tral or horizontal link I being divided transversely, the parts thereof are caught or linked in the usual manner into the adjacent vertical links j, and the parts are then placed with the divided horizontal link in the central portion 7.; in the usual manner. The parts of the block being placed together in their usual position and firmly secured by the bolts 0, the divided link then, on the chain being pulled, rests with its outer curved ends q against the ends a of the depression 7;, the

narrower depressions 72 and '1? not permitting the sections of the parted link to pass through. By this means a portion of the chain may at any time be easily removed or replaced and the length of the space will remain the same. It will-be seen that the central raised portion m maybe omitted entirely, and the blocks will still remain in position, the pulling-strain in that case acting entirely upon the ends at of the depression but for general use the portions on are preferable, as they then receive a portion of the pullin strain, which operates to relieve the end portions 01.

It will be readily seen, of course, that by means of my improvement any desired form of conveying device may be attached to the chain in an effective and substantial manner; and it is also evident that, as shown. in Figs. 11 and 12, the form of the recesses in. the sections of the transverse block may be changed, the central portion of the recesses being changed to receive the vertical link and the outer portion changed to receive the horizontal link, and the device will then opcrate the same, and the result produced will be of a like character.

Another and great advantage of this improvement is that the links of the chain are entirely flexible in all directions, the transverse recess iitting over the links being so arranged as to allow the links to lie loosely therein and permitthe cable to pass over the peripheries of the sheaves without undue strain. of any of its parts, which obviates aserious fault which obtains in the common form of wire-rope cables when used as a power-transmitter and run over revol'ving wheels, and more especially in wire rope used as a convcyer-cable, and on which a series of transverse blocks are held in frictional contact with the cable, the continued bending and straightening of the cable in passing over the wheels and the strain of the driving pulley on the transverse blocks causing the outer strands of the cable to receive more than their proportion of the strain, which has a tendencyto quickly part the cable at the point of contact with the edge of the blocks.

I am aware, as I have before stated, that wire-rope cables having cngagingblocks rigidly secured thereto at intervals and held by frictional contact are in use, and therefore I do not claim such a device or combt nation, as my invention is especially designed to overcome the objections and difficulties attending the use of that form of conveyor;

and,

opposite sides of such chain, each section hav- In testimonywhereofl affix my signature in ing, as described, a transverse recess in Which presence of two Witnesses. the links lie loosely, and both such sections having their adjacent faces held firmly to- CHARLES S. WELLS. 5 gether by bolts or rivets, but leaving the links WVitnesses:

free to rock or move in their recesses, all sub- J AS. E. THOMAS,

stantially as described. G. P. THOMAS. 

